May Still be Afloat

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 250, 12 January 1928, Page 1

May Still be Afloat

Sir Keith Smith’s View By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Received 10.5 a.m. MELBOURNE, To-day. SIR KEITH SMITH, the famous airman, referring to the flight, expressed himself as more than ever convinced that such a flight should not have been undertaken except in an amphibian machine. He says that, although it is an all-metal machine, it does not necessarily mean that it would sink. Toward the end of the flight, the petrol tanks would be at least three-quarters empty. That would mean considerable buoyancy. There was a possibility that the machine might still be found floating.—A. and N.Z.

“Most Suitable For Flight” Received 10 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. MAJOR DE HAVILAND, who inspected the Aotea-Roa at Melbourne, said that, unless the machine developed defects on the journey, he considered it should be equal to the task of crossing the Tasman. The plane impressed him as being the most suitable for the flight and, given ordinary luck, he could discover no reason why it should not reach its destination. If it had been forced to descend on the sea, and had made a good landing, it should float for some hours, particularly if the airmen were able to empty the petrol tanks. Even if the machine crashed in the sea, and the wings were broken, it should float for two or three hours. —A. and N.Z.